Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Pillows and a chance of Lady Bugs

So I got a little bit more done on my Sue Hillis cross stitch. Getting closer to finishing it although a part of me is saying enough already and lets go to a new project. I was perusing a blog that I found through a magazine at work and found a nifty tutorial on making a pillow. http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2008/09/petal-pillow-tutorial.html I'm going to head to Jo Ann's tomorrow and get the fabric I need to make this nifty little pillow just to break the monotony. I also have the lovely pleasure of going to my quilting bee tomorrow and basting one of the log cabins I have. Will post pictures as I finish.
     As I was sleeping last night I had a great idea for an item that I want to put together and either sell or give as a gift. It depends on how well it turns out. I want to do a lady bug set. I have a design in my head for a wooden box and a quilt and a set of pillows. The main event of this lovely set will be a cross stitch by Joan Elliot called the Lady Bird. I've bought the backing fabric and have decided to turn this into a pillow.
   Just trying to throw my ideas out before they vanish from my head. As always thanks for listening.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Setting up for the rest of the year

So Saturday I was at working working on my current cross stitch and I thought about the projects I've started but never finished. I made a list of them and have some sort of a plan in conquering them.

1) The current cross stitch by Sue Hillis. I am in the process of finishing it this week. I still have a lot of filling in to do before I detail it but I'm closer than I was.
2) A purple and green log cabin quilt. The top is done but I need to quilt it. I have a quilting bee on Wednesday where I plan on basting it so i can get it quilting this week.
3) A green and brown log cabin ( yes I love log cabins!) that was supposed to be an anniversary gift to my husband a few years ago. I have it sorta basted and partially quilted. I'm hoping to have it done in the next few weeks.
4) A coca cola quilt. My goal is to have it done by Christmas. It is....... a mess. I've been working on it for at least two years and never quite finished the piecing.
5) American Beauty Sampler Quilt- Saw the ladies at my bee working on this a year or so ago and thought it looked idiot proof enough so I ordered it from Keepsake Quilting. I have one and a half of the blocks pieced. As I get time I'm going to try and get a block done once a week and go from there. That's another one I would love to have done by Christmas.
6) The Jo Ann's BOM quilt from last fall. I have most of the blocks pieced. just need to finished the blocks and buy the kit it takes to put it together. Not sure on a time frame yet
7) Cinderella Cross stitch by Joan Elliot. Have enough of the stitching done it to call it a UFO. I really want to have it done in time for a gift for a friend's little girl's birthday in May.
8) Garden Fairy cross stitch by Joan Elliot. I have something special in mind for this one. I've had a thing for lady bugs lately and I plan on turning it into a pillow and putting a corresponding quilt with it using a pattern by Jennifer Chiaverini.

As you can see it is a long list but with bits and pieces done here and there I might be able to feel like I've accomplished something this year. As each project is finished I will post pictures and would love opinions. Thank you again for listening.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

An Introduction

    My name is Wendy and I'm 30 years old. I've been a quilter for nearly three years. I actually got my introduction in quilting with reading the Elm Creek Quilter series by Jennifer Chiaverini. I looked for a teacher and got one when I started working for Goodwill. The first quilt I made was actually finished by someone I met through an online group. The second quilt I made was the one that got me my job at Michael's.
    For the past three years I've been trying to find niche by trying different things. I have a few UFO's that I'm going to try to finish this year. I'm facing a few problems getting them done. 1) I have the worse case of ADD. I see something that I want to try and I immediately race out to do it. I get maybe three quarters of the way into it and get bored with it. After talking to several other people who craft this is not uncommon. A lady who owns a blog that I follow has been going through her UFO stash and quilting like a mad woman and she's been my inspiration for getting my butt in gear.
2) I have a hard time trusting myself and my decisions. Nothing seems like a good idea at the time and I'm not sure where my next step is going to be.
3) I have a severe crutch that I've been having a hard time letting go of. I lost my dad last summer and I feel like everything I ever wanted to be or ever could be went with him. It's been so hard letting go and it's been hard finding my way.
  I'm hoping this blog will be a way to conquer these things and maybe let go some of the hurt, anger and fear I have inside me. I want to be able to make friends and share my triumphs and have someone to push me if I stray from this goal.